It
must not be supposed, however, that the settlement of Claverack did not begin
until after 1704. It appears from the journal of two Labadist priests, who
visited this section in 1780, that in the vicinity of Claverack village there
were at that time fine farms and other evidences indicating early possession.
But no data can be found as to the names of these "boors" (farmers), and whether
they subsequently removed or remained in town. It is not improbable that
some of the immigrants to New Netherlands prior to the period named above, whose
names are still perpetuated in the town, may have composed the community of
which these priests speak, and that some of the ancestors of the people of today
were among the very first settlers.

The
settlement of the town was slowly made, and even after the patroon had held out
his flattering inducements to the sturdy Lowlanders was meagre in numbers.
It appears from the census of 1714 that in all Claverack there were but two
hundred and sixteen persons, and that nineteen of these were slaves. the
large proportion of children given in the list indicates that there were many
young families, whose settlements must have been comparatively recent. A
few of those who lived in the town abut that period may be briefly noted.

After
Hendrick Van Rensselaer had received his land, he removed to it with his family
and such of his friends as he could induce to leave the older community at
Albany. He was active in promoting the establishment of a church and other
measures for the good of the settlers, and did not seek the full benefits of his
lordly privileges. His son, John, seems to have been the first to exercise
these privileges. and was known as the proprietor of the town. One of his
sons, John I., succeeded to the manorial rights, and sold them out of the
family. The latter was the father of Gen. Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer.
The manor-house erected by this branch of the family is a mile east from
Claverack village, and is at present the property of Allen S. Miller.
Others of the Van Rensselaers lived where Stottsville now is, owning for many
years a large tract of land in that locality. A portion of this, in
Claverack, on the Union turnpike, yet belongs to Jacob F. Van Rensselaer, a
lineal descendant in the sixth generation, and is the only land of the old
patroon's broad domain that has never been out of the family.

About
1715 many of the Palatines and others on the Livingston manor removed to
Claverack. Among these were the Conyns, who settled in the neighborhood of
Humphreyville. Casparus Conyn was a captain in a provincial regiment, and
warmly espoused the American cause in the Revolution. In 1766 he erected a
large house in that section, which yet stands in good condition. It is a
gambrel-roofed structure of brick, two and a half stories high, and is now owned
by A. H. Van Rensselaer, a maternal descendant. Not far from the Conyns
was the Van Dusen family, which was prominent in the early history of the town.
Cornelius Van Dusen was killed by the anti-renters in 1791.

The
Esselstynes came to America in 1660, and 1710 a member named Jacob settled in
the central part of Claverack. One of his sons, Richard, was a major in
the Continental army, and died the year peace with England was declared.
Among his sons were Jacob and Cornelius. The former remained on the
homestead, and was the grandfather of the present owner, Tobias Esselstyne, who
is in the sixth generation of the family that has occupied this place, and which
has never been in any other name. Some of the descendants of the Cornelius
Esselstyne branch became prominent citizens of the county.

One
branch of the numerous and well-known Miller family, in Claverack and Hudson,
originated from Cornelis Stephanis Muldor, who obtained a lease of one thousand
acres of land east of the village of Claverack in 1718, a large portion of which
is yet in possession of his direct descendants. Four of his sons,
Jeremias, Stephanis, Christophel, and Killianem, came with their father, who was
an aged man, and settled in various parts of the town. From the first
named have come the Judge John I. Miller branch and others living in the
northern part of the town and in Ghent. Among the children of Stephanis
was Cornelius S., who was a member of the committee of safety during the
Revolution. His farm was south of the village of Claverack, and included
the house now occupied by Jeremiah M. Race, who is a maternal descendant.
This building was erected in 1767, and being a very substantial structure, the
cellar was used to confine the troublesome Tories of this vicinity in 1776-79.
Stephen Miller, a son of Cornelius S., was taken prisoner by the Indians in the
Revolution and held by the British about six months, when he effected his
escape. He afterwards lived on the present Van Wyck place. He was
the ancestor of Judge Theodore Miller, Hon. John Gaul, and Henry C. Miller.
The latter was sheriff of the county in 1844, and arrested "Big Thunder" at
Hollowville that year. Christophel was the great-grandfather of Killian
Miller, who became an attorney of distinguished note.

Another
branch of the Millers came from Holland very early, and found homes in one of
the lower counties of the State. Before the Revolution some of their
descendants settled in the eastern part of Claverack, where their posterity have
since resided, and are esteemed among the leading citizens of the town. A
third family of that name traces its descent from Germany. Its descendants
live in the neighborhood of Mellenville.

The
Ten Broeck family is one of the most ancient in town. Samuel Ten Broeck
was a son-in-law of Hendrick Van Rensselaer, and the grandfather of Adam Ten
Broeck who served all through the Revolution. On the 26th of June, 1766,
Cornelius Ten Broeck was killed by the anti-renters.

The
Philip family also came from Germantown. It comprised four brothers,
George, William, Henry, and David, from whom have descended those bearing that
name. (page 236) George was a captain in the American army in the Revolution, and was
a commissary of subsistence.

The
Hortons came from England, and became connected with the Philips by marriage.
Michael Horton also held a commission in the American army. and was at the
Saratoga engagement.

The
Hogebooms were early and important members of the Claverack settlement, and were
the descendants of Killian Hogeboom, who came from Holland some time after 1712,
bringing his son Jeremiah, who was born that year, with him. Another son,
Johannes, was born in Claverack, and was the ancestor of the Hogebooms who
removed to Ghent. Jeremiah Hogeboom was the colonel of a provincial
regiment in 1772, and the father of Captain Stephen Hogeboom, who was the
grandfather of James Watson Webb. A son of Stephen's, Killian, was in
charge of the post-office station in Claverack after the Revolution.
Peter, another son of Jeremiah, became a well-known citizen of Hudson.
Cornelius, a son of Johannes Hogeboom, and cousin of the last named, was one of
the first sheriffs of the county, and was killed while in the discharge of his
duty, Oct. 22, 1791. His son, John C., became one of the most prominent
men of the State, and was the father of Judge Henry Hogeboom, one of the
foremost jurists of the country.

The
Mesick family deserves a place in the connection, as one of the oldest and best
known. Peter Mesick held a lieutenant's commission from Cadwellader
Colden, dated 1762, and also served as a an officer in the Revolution. The
distinguished Van Ness, Storm, Sagendorph, Vanderpoel, Ostrander, Jacobie, and
Harder families were among the early settlers in the northern part of the town,
and their successive generations have always ranked among the foremost citizens
of Claverack and the surrounding towns. Farther
south and on the flats of the Claverack, the Herdick, Van De Carr, Delameter,
and Van Hoesen families settled. the latter is now known as the Mosely
place and the house which stands on it was erected soon after 1700. Near
by lived Judah Paddock, in a house which ranks with the Van Hoesen house in age
and general architecture. This became the property of Robert Morris some
time before 1800, and is now the property of William Jordan. A son of
Morris, Robert H., became a distinguished attorney and mayor of New York city.
The grandfather of the latter was Richard Morris, who came to Claverack in 1776,
settling on the Waldo farm. The Morris family was very noted in those
times, and, having espoused the American cause, was obliged to flee from their
home in New York city. The state of the country is shown from the
following rare letter of Richard Morris to his "Excellency George Clinton, Esq., att Albany":

"My
Good Sir,--When I heard you was going to Alby. I flattered myself a Little that
my Cottage might possibly Entertain you one night, which would have given
infinite pleasure both to Mrs. Morris and myself. I am sett down upon a
farm about two miles north of the town of Claverack, but I think too near the
river, not being above half a mile from it, where, if it is possible in your
return, I must begg to see you. I would sett out in the morning to pay my
respects to you at Albany, but I am really afraid to leave my House at night for
fear of those Rascally tory Robbers that are Rambling about the country. I
have had a very bad opinion of our Affairs to the North, and had some thoughts
of sending some of my things south again, but when I heard you was moving North,
I was Determined to wait till I heard your sentiments and Advice in the matter.
Mrs. Morris joins me in our best Respects to Mrs. Clinton when you see her, and
be Assured, my Good Sir, among you many friends none is more Really please with
the Honble Testimony your Country bears for you than your Affe. Hum. Servt.,
Rd. Morris.

"If I cannot see you, do Lett me have the
pleasure of Hearing from you.

"Direct to the Care of Henry Ludlow, Jr., at Claverack."

It is
related of Richard Morris that when the news of the treaty of peace with England
came, he procured a barrel of tar and made a bonfire of it on the adjoining
hill. It is also reported that Robert Morris had a cannon, which he was
accustomed to fire off on this hill on Independence day, and that this
circumstance gave it the name of "Mount Bob." The Ludlows came from New
York about the same time as the Morrises, and settled at Claverack village,
where some of the descendants yet live. In the southern part of the town,
Christopher Hagadorn, John Anderson, Frederick Prosseus, and Johannes Rossman
settled before 1750, and in some instances the descendants of these names yet
possess the land of their firs ancestors.

Among
others residing in Claverack prior to 1776 were the Hess, Williams, Webb,
Martin, Race, Spoor, Ham, Plass, Whitbeck, Melius, Gardner, Monell, and Vosburgh
families, most of whom have representatives in the fourth and fifth generations
yet living in town, and are closely identified with its interests.

The
names of many other early citizens appear in the published muster-roll of
Colonel Jeremiah Hogeboom's regiment of militia, in 1772, which was composed
largely of men residing in Claverack, in the civil list, and in the histories of
the churches. They are here omitted to avoid repetition, and it is
believed that these and the forgoing embrace all who came prior to the
Revolution. As they number several hundred, the possibility of an extended
personal notice is unavoidably precluded.

The
population of the town in 1875 was 3817. Of this number 2044 were females,
and 352 had a foreign birth.